Scholarships

90+ Unique Scholarships, Just ONE Application!

Applying for scholarships from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is easier than ever. There is just one application and one deadline. 

Access the CFNIL Scholarship Application Portal

Need help getting started? Visit the Scholarship Resources page to learn how to apply!

CFNIL’s scholarship funds were created by donors that recognize the importance of helping students achieve their educational goals, now and in perpetuity. The funds’ creators selected the criteria based on their interests and the community’s need. Many of CFNIL’s scholarships are memorials, which celebrate the life and passions of individuals.

The diversity of scholarship offerings reflects the diversity of CFNIL’s donors and the communities it serves. The majority of scholarships are for current college students and graduating high school seniors in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties. Scholarships are available based on a variety of factors: community engagement; academic achievement; financial need; athletic participation; field of study; and many more. There are scholarships for non-traditional, minority, and first-generation college students. Nearly two dozen scholarships are available for students who have a high school diploma OR a GED — learn more on the Scholarship Resource page.

The applications are read and scored by committees of volunteers who use a “blind” review process and make recommendations to CFNIL’s Board of Trustees. Scholarship recipients are announced in late April. Awards are sent directly to the recipient’s post-secondary institution.

Questions? Need help getting started? Contact Ciara!

Ciara Stahly, Program Officer
Ciara Stahly
Program Officer
Phone: 779-210-8209
Email: Ciara Stahly

The majority of the scholarship funds CFNIL administers are included in the application for the main scholarship cycle (open Dec. 1 – Feb 1). Those funds are listed in the first table below. The remaining scholarships, listed in the second table below, run on a different timeline or are administered by outside organizations. Click on the fund name for details on how to apply for these scholarships. 

CFNIL Administered Scholarships

Status Scholarship Name Type Region Schools Deadline
Open Geoffrey R. Laird Memorial Scholarship Academics, Current College Student, Financial Need, GED Recipient, Graduating High School Senior, Mathematics, Sciences Winnebago Co. February 1
Open Harry H. and Floy B. Chapin Scholarship Academics, Graduating High School Senior Dakota HS, Durand HS, Pecatonica HS February 1
Open Hazel Mortimer Hyde Memorial Conservation NSDAR Scholarship Academics, Conservation, Financial Need, Graduating High School Senior Winnebago Co. February 1
Open Hegel Family Soccer Scholarship Academics, Athletics, Community Service, Graduating High School Student Hononegah HS February 1
Open Howard and Eithal Curry Elementary Education Recruitment Grant Education, Female, Graduating High School Senior, Teaching Boone Co., Winnebago Co. February 1
Open Howard D. Colman Scholarship Academics, Computer Science, Engineering, Graduating High School Senior, Technology Boone Co., Winnebago Co. February 1
Open International Management Council (IMC) Scholarship Academics, Business, Community Service, Graduating High School Senior Winnebago Co. February 1
Open It's Up To Me Scholarship Financial Need, Graduating High School Senior, Students With Disabilities Boone Co., Winnebago Co. February 1
Open Jack Lovejoy Vocational Scholarship Community Service, Graduating High School Senior, High School Graduate, Vocational Studies Hononegah HS February 1
Open Janet L. Williams Mathematics Scholarship Computer Science, Engineering, Graduating High School Senior, Mathematics, Teaching Hononegah HS February 1
Open John E. Lindley Memorial Swim Scholarship Athletics, Financial Need, Graduating High School Senior Rockford HS February 1
Open John Flynn Memorial Scholarship Community Service, Graduating High School Senior Pecatonica HS February 1
Closed Jouris Family Scholarship Academics, Graduating High School Senior, Mathematics, Physical Sciences Winnebago Co. Not accepting applications in this school year
Open Karen and Robert Harter Recruitment Grant Current College Student, Education, Female, GED Recipient, Mathematics, Non-Traditional, Nursing, Sciences Boone Co., Ogle Co., Stephenson Co., Winnebago Co. February 1
Open Keith Maffioli Scholarship Academics, Financial Need, Graduating High School Senior Boone Co., Ogle Co., Stephenson Co., Winnebago Co. February 1
Open Kim and Ruth MacCloskey RAMI Music Scholarship Financial Need, GED Recipient, Graduating High School Senior, High School Graduate, Music Boone Co., Ogle Co., Winnebago Co. February 1
Open Kjellstrom Women's Scholarship Initiative Female, GED Recipient, High School Graduate, Non-Traditional Winnebago Co. February 1
Closed Larry and Betty McGee Scholarship Community Service, Computer Science, Current College Student, Engineering, Financial Need, GED Recipient, Sciences, Technology Winnebago Co. Not accepting applications in this school year
Open League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford Scholarship Academics, Civic Engagement, Financial Need, Graduating High School Senior, High School Graduate Boone Co., Winnebago Co. February 1
Open Leonard D. Carmichael Community Service Scholarship Community Service, Financial Need, Graduating High School Senior Rochelle HS February 1
Open Lieutenant Kelli Ingardona Memorial Scholarship Current College Student, Financial Need, Fire Science, GED Recipient, High School Graduate Boone Co., Ogle Co., Winnebago Co. February 1
Open Margaret T. Craig Community Service Scholarship Community Service, Current College Student, GED Recipient, High School Graduate, Renewable Winnebago Co. February 1
Open May-Cassioppi Scholarship Athletics, Financial Need, Graduating High School Senior Guilford HS February 1
Open Mike Lindberg Memorial Scholarship Community Service, Financial Need, Graduating High School Senior North Boone HS February 1
Closed My Heart is in Art Scholarship Academics, Arts, Education, Graduating High School Senior, Visual Arts Boone Co., Stephenson Co., Winnebago Co. Not accepting applications in this school year

Other Scholarships